Adjustable press face

Abstract

An adjustable shaping mold is provided with an externally positioned adjusting arrangement. All adjustments to the curved configuration of the shaping surface of the mold are done without having to adjust any portion of the adjusting mechanism that is positioned between the flexible shaping member and rigid mounting plate of the mold.

We claim: 
     
       1. An adjustable shaping mold comprising: a rigid mounting plate;   a flexible shaping member with a first major surface forming a shaping surface of said mold;   a plurality of adjustable connectors positioned between said rigid plate and a central zone of said shaping member to maintain a predetermined spaced distance therebetween, each of said connectors including a base member secured to a surface opposite said shaping surface of said shaping member and an adjusting bolt with a first and extending through said rigid plate and an opposing end rotatably secured to said base member;   means cooperating between said rigid plate and said first end of said bolt to allow for axial adjustment of said bolt relative to said plate; and   means permitting adjustment of said bolt so as to change said space distance and configuration of said shaping surface of said shaping member wherein said permitting means is positioned outside of said space between said plate and shaping member and further wherein adjustment of said bolt in a first direction displaces said shaping member in a first direction relative to said rigid plate and adjustment of said bolt is a second, opposite direction displaces said shaping member in a second, opposite direction relative to said rigid plate.   
     
     
       2. The mold as in claim 1 wherein said connectors further include a collar member with a first end secured to said opposing end of said adjusting bolt and an enlarged head member at the opposing end of said collar captured within a cavity in said base member. 
     
     
       3. The mold as in claim 2 wherein said cooperating means includes a threaded aperature associated with said plate and said adjusting bolt includes a threaded portion extending through said threaded aperature for rotation therein and further wherein said adjustment means includes means to rotate said bolt within said threaded aperature for axial adjustment of said bolt relative to said plate. 
     
     
       4. The mold as in claim 3 wherein said opposing end of said bolt is non-rotationally secured to said collar and said enlarged head member of said collar is rotationally engaged by said base. 
     
     
       5. The mold as in claim 4 wherein said enlarged head member includes an annular disc member having first and second ledge members and said base member includes a disc member receiving chamber with first and second bearing surfaces that are closely spaced to said first and second ledge portions, respectively, of said disc member wherein rotation of said bolt in a first direction biases said first ledge member against said first bearing surface and rotation of said bolt in a second direction biases said second ledge member against said second bearing surface. 
     
     
       6. The mold as in claim 5 wherein said base includes a slotted opening to removably receive said enlarged head member within said base. 
     
     
       7. The mold as in claim 6 wherein said mold is a vacuum mold and said flexible shaping member is an apertured shaping member, further including means to seal the peripheral edge of said mounting plate with the peripheral edge of said shaping member to form a vacuum chamber, and further wherein said adjusting means is external to said vacuum chamber. 
     
     
       8. The mold as in claim 4 wherein said enlarged head member is a generally spherically shaped member and said base includes a spherically shaped member receiving chamber wherein rotation of said adjusting bolt in a first direction biases said base and said flexible shaping member away from said mounting plate, and rotation of said adjusting bolt in a second direction biases said base and flexible shaping member toward said mounting plate. 
     
     
       9. The mold as in claim 8 wherein said mold is a vacuum mold and said flexible shaping member is an apertured shaping member, further including means to seal the peripheral edge of said mounting plate with the peripheral edge of said shaping member to form a vacuum chamber, and further wherein said adjusting means is external to said vacuum chamber. 
     
     
       10. The mold as in claim 3 wherein said enlarged member is non-rotationally secured within said base and said first end of said adjusting bolt is threadedly secured to said first end of said collar such that rotation of said bolt moves said collar along said bolt. 
     
     
       11. An adjustable connector for adjusting the space between central portions of a flexible plate and a rigid mounting plate comprising: an anchor having a chamber and means to permit securing of said anchor to said flexible plate;   a shaft extending from said anchor with a first end rotatably secured said anchor and a second end capable of extending through said rigid mounting plate spaced from said flexible plate;   means positioned along said second end of said shaft to cooperate with said rigid plate to allow for axial adjustment of said shaft relative to said plate; and   means to provide for adjusting engagement of said shaft wherein said providing means is positioned outside of the space between said rigid mounting plate and said flexible plate and further wherein adjustment of said shaft in a first direction displaces and flexible plate in a first direction relative to said mounting plate and adjustment of said shaft in a second, opposite direction displaces said flexible plate in a second, opposite direction relative to said mounting plate.   
     
     
       12. The connector as in claim 11 wherein said shaft includes a collar member secured to said first end of said shaft, said collar member having an enlarged head portion captured within said cavity of said anchor. 
     
     
       13. The connector as in claim 12 wherein said cooperating means includes a threaded portion of said shaft rotatable engagable by said plate and said providing means includes means to rotate said shaft for axial adjustment of said shaft relative to said plate. 
     
     
       14. The connector as in claim 13 wherein said shaft is non-rotationally secured to said collar member and said enlarged head portion of said collar member is rotationally captured within said cavity of said anchor. 
     
     
       15. The connector as in claim 14 wherein said enlarged head member is non-rotatably secured within said cavity of said anchor and said shaft is rotationally secured to said collar member such that rotation of said shaft displaces said collar member along said shaft. 
     
     
       16. The connector as in claim 14 wherein said enlarged head member includes an annular disc member having first and second ledge members and said anchor includes a disc member receiving chamber with first and second bearing surfaces are closely spaced to said first and second ledge portions, respectively, of said disc member wherein rotation of said shaft in a first direction biases said first ledge member against said first bearing surface and rotation of said shaft in a second direction biases said second ledge member against said second bearing surface. 
     
     
       17. The connector as in claim 16 wherein said enlarged head member is removably received within said anchor. 
     
     
       18. The connector as in claim 16 wherein said enlarged head member is generally spherically shaped member. 
     
     
       19. An adjustable shaping mold comprising: a rigid mounting plate having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite said first surface;   a flexible shaping member having a first major surface defining a shaping surface of said mold and a second major surface opposite said shaping surface and in facing relationship to said first surface of said rigid plate;   a plurality of elongated members having a first end portion passing through said rigid plate and a second end spaced from said second surface of said shaping member;   means coupling each of said first end portions of said elongated members with said rigid plate for axial adjustment of said second end of said elongated water relative to said shaping member;   a plurality of base members secured in spaced relation to one another in a central zone of said second surface of said shaping member;   means for connecting ones of said base members to ones of said second end of said elongated members to set the spacing between said rigid plate and said shaping member and to establish the shape of said shaping surface of said shaping member; and   means outside of said space between said rigid plate and said shaping member to permit a rotation of said elongated member, wherein said rotation waves said base member and portions of said shaping member relative to said rigid plate to adjust said space between said rigid plate and said shaping member and change the shape of said shaping surface.